Community communication practices of selected organic farmers' associations in Central Luzon, Philippines
2017
Joson, R.Q.
The study analyzed the community communication practices of three organic farmers' associations. It was a descriptive research that employed survey and focus group discussion methods using interview schedule and guide questions. There were 84 respondents. Results revealed that respondents: were married, 52 years old; had five household members, college education, seven years in organic farming; and sourced their income mainly from organic agriculture (OA) business. There was an almost equal number of male and female respondents. They owned 3.10 hectares of farm; operated on a first party certification; produced their own inputs; and produced rice, vegetables, rootcrops, fruits trees, poultry and livestock. The most accessed media were mobile phones, internet, face-to-face interaction. Available information was mostly on OA production technologies, OA law and Philippine National Standards for OA. They frequently attended meetings and participated in discussion; produced briefing kits and products' brochures; and documented OA practices. Associations had good partnerships with local government units, national government agencies, non-government organizations and other farmers' groups due to collaborative undertakings on production, extension, and marketing. Organic farmers had excellent knowledge on organic agriculture technologies and had good market networks. They fairly received project grants and had good relationships with one another. The study determined the best practices of associations on community communication: use of various communication media; active participation to OA events; sharing of knowledge; production of poems and essays on OA; documentation of OA best practices; good relationship with various institutions; and democratic leadership.
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